The Rockies are in the midst of a deep rebuild. Colorado hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2018 season and much of that can be attributed to draft picks not working out. Still, the Rockies have found some impact over the past decade, including Drew Romo and Chase Dollander, who could be impact players in the future. Here’s a look at the best MLB Draft picks the Rockies have made over the last decade.
Best Rockies Draft Picks Over Last 10 Seasons
| Name | Position | Year Drafted | Round | Career bWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Freeland | P | 2014 | 1 | 17.1 |
| Brendan Rodgers | 2B/SS | 2015 | 1 | 5.6 |
| Sam Hilliard | OF | 2015 | 15 | 2.1 |
| Garrett Hampson | INF/OF | 2016 | 3 | 1.7 |
| Bryan Baker | P | 2016 | 11 | 1.8 |
| Lucas Gilbreath | P | 2017 | 7 | 1.5 |
| Sean Bouchard | 1B | 2017 | 9 | 1.1 |
| Brenton Doyle | OF | 2019 | 4 | 1.7 |
This list doesn’t have many standouts; just two of the nine names above have a bWAR of at least 3.0. The most notable of the nine is Kyle Freeland, who turned out to be a valuable asset for the Rockies.
Freeland, a first-round pick out of the University of Evansville and Colorado native, quickly rose to prominence in 2017 after a strong rookie campaign. The left-handed sinkerballer posted a 4.10 ERA over 156 innings in 2017, and in 2018, Freeland had a year to remember. The Rockies starter won 17 games, posted a 2.87 ERA, and finished fourth in the NL Cy Young Award voting.
All of those accomplishments mean even more when considering how difficult it is to pitch in Coors Field.
Aside from Freeland, Colorado landed Brendan Rodgers a year later in 2015. Rodgers turned into a productive second baseman for the Rockies. The 27-year-old posted two 15-home run campaigns and won a Gold Glove in 2022.
We now move from the best Rockies draft picks to notable ones that didn’t work out.
Worst Rockies Draft Picks Over Last 10 Seasons
| Name | Position | Year Drafted | Round | Career bWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest Wall | INF/OF | 2014 | 1 | 0.3 |
| Mike Nikorak | P | 2015 | 1 | Never played in MLB |
| Riley Pint | P | 2016 | 1 | 0.0 |
| Robert Tyler | P | 2016 | 1 | Never played in MLB |
| Ben Bowden | P | 2016 | 2 | -0.6 |
| Ryan Vilade | 3B | 2017 | 2 | 0.0 |
| Tommy Doyle | P | 2017 | 2 | -0.5 |
| Ryan Rolison | P | 2018 | 1 | Never played in MLB |
| Grant Lavigne | 1B/OF | 2018 | 1 | Never played in MLB |
The most notable name listed here is Riley Pint, whose story is incredible. The fourth overall pick in 2016, Pint struggled mightily with command and injuries as a Minor League starter and retired after 2019. Pint returned to the Rockies system in 2021 and ultimately made his MLB debut in 2023.
Pint’s story is one of perseverance. While Pint is on this list merely because he’s thrown just 0.1 IP in his MLB career despite his once-lofty prospect stock, he could wind up being a piece for Colorado’s future.
The 26-year-old Pint is one of several former first and second-round picks who’ve yet to find regular success at the MLB level. Ryan Vilade, a once highly-touted prospect, had just 17 plate appearances (as of 6/25/24) at the MLB level after being Colorado’s top pick in 2017.
Forrest Wall, now with the Braves, had 27 plate appearances as of June 25, 2024, all with the Braves. Wall was selected in the first round by Colorado in 2014.
Others, like Mike Nikorak, Robert Tyler, and Ryan Rolison, haven’t pitched at the MLB level. Rolison, though, is in Triple-A and could make his MLB debut. Nikorak retired in 2021, while Tyler returned to Georgia as a student assistant coach in 2022.
These lists do not include players selected but did not sign. bWAR figures as of June 2024.